You should expect the value of your old Mac to decrease sharply immediately after a new model comes out, then drop more slowly as it becomes an "old computer" and not a "last-generation" computer anymore.
<strong>I guess my existing G4 with the following spec:
500Mhz G4 Dual Processor
1.75GB RAM
TWO 47GB IBM Deskstar GXP
DVD-ROM
Zip 100
3 yr AppleCare til Jan 2004
.....will be drop to $1600 US
Is it too low or too high?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Well as it happens I am shopping for just that model. I plan to swap out the dual processor card with the one in my Cube (450MHz). I'm tracking a DP 500 at eBay - It's at $900 right now - (2 days left).
Why? Is it because the Sawtooth mobo cannot accept the faster G4s, due to power supply or cooling issues?
That's too bad, I was looking forward to upgrading my CPU sometime next year. But going from 400 MHz to 500 MHz isn't worth any money to me...i'd hardly notice the change.
I have one of those early model AGP G4's that can't use Sonnet's Duet cards, and which may not be able to utilize any of the next generation cards either, which sucks bad.
That said, I don't give "what is my computer worth" a second thought. Computers are like cars, once you drive it off the lot it immediately depreciates a ridiculous amount and continues to depreciate rapidly over the course of the first year or so.
To my way of thinking, a G5 won't make my current machine worth less, so long as my machine does what I ask of it in an efficient enough manner that I can get things done without having to wait on a regular basis (progress bars, etc). Thus it's as dependant upon the software as anything else.
For example, if I can run the first native versions of Photoshop, GoLive and InDesign as fast or faster than I could the previous versions under OS 9, I won't bother with a G5 until they've been around for a while and the price drops. Maybe if you're one of these people who does a lot of DV or 3D work, you can make the case the G5 makes obsolete all previous PowerMacs....but I'm not one of those people luckily.
New hardware makes old hardware less valuable when the time comes to sell. Of course we all know this.
However, I don't feel that the value of my old machines now is any less than their value when I bought them new from the Apple store.
There are many kinds of value and the only a machine's value decreases is if it is being under-utilized or being sold.
For example: my numerous 'old' macs are still very valuable. A Wallstreet powerbook saw it's last flight 2 years ago and now sits on my mother's desk where she checks her e-mail, surfs the web, and does other small tasks. My PowerBook G4 has taken over the role of keeping me productive away from home, but the Wallstreet still is valuable because if we did not have it, my mother would be using my DP 500 G4 tower at exactly the time when I need to get my graphics, programming, and scripting work done.
My old 7200/180 is no longer valuable as a workstation, however it is incredibly useful as a development webserver and POP3 mail server. And it is still more secure than my company's IIS servers. Sometimes I bring it in to take the place of a server that needs to be taken down for the night for whatever reason.
Point is, you can just about always find a new task for an old mac. But if you are looking to sell, then yes, be prepared to receive nothing close to what you paid.
Comments
7X 256MB Modules? In 4 Slots?
Get it?
<strong>I guess my existing G4 with the following spec:
500Mhz G4 Dual Processor
1.75GB RAM
TWO 47GB IBM Deskstar GXP
DVD-ROM
Zip 100
3 yr AppleCare til Jan 2004
.....will be drop to $1600 US
Is it too low or too high?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Well as it happens I am shopping for just that model. I plan to swap out the dual processor card with the one in my Cube (450MHz). I'm tracking a DP 500 at eBay - It's at $900 right now - (2 days left).
See the Cube hardware hack at xlr8yourmac:
<a href="http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/systems/cube/dual_g4_cube/dual_g4_cube.html"; target="_blank">http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/systems/cube/dual_g4_cube/dual_g4_cube.html</a>;
<strong>Leonis, does it recognize all the RAM or just 1.5 GB?</strong><hr></blockquote>
It does recognize all RAM.
I just took out that 256MB RAM to my PC for some other projects....once I put that RAM back to my G4 I will make a screen cap
Maybe once the G5 is here, we will be able to do so?
<strong>I'd like to know if I'll be able to buy a G4 upgrade > 500MHz anytime soon for my Sawtooth. 867 MHz would be nice.
Maybe once the G5 is here, we will be able to do so?</strong><hr></blockquote>
If I were you I wouldn't be expecting upgrades over 500 MHz.
That's too bad, I was looking forward to upgrading my CPU sometime next year. But going from 400 MHz to 500 MHz isn't worth any money to me...i'd hardly notice the change.
<strong>
If I were you I wouldn't be expecting upgrades over 500 MHz.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Those 500Mhz+ upgrades will come, but for a price, really big price
That said, I don't give "what is my computer worth" a second thought. Computers are like cars, once you drive it off the lot it immediately depreciates a ridiculous amount and continues to depreciate rapidly over the course of the first year or so.
To my way of thinking, a G5 won't make my current machine worth less, so long as my machine does what I ask of it in an efficient enough manner that I can get things done without having to wait on a regular basis (progress bars, etc). Thus it's as dependant upon the software as anything else.
For example, if I can run the first native versions of Photoshop, GoLive and InDesign as fast or faster than I could the previous versions under OS 9, I won't bother with a G5 until they've been around for a while and the price drops. Maybe if you're one of these people who does a lot of DV or 3D work, you can make the case the G5 makes obsolete all previous PowerMacs....but I'm not one of those people luckily.
<strong>What a dumb thread.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Why's it a dumb thread?
However, I don't feel that the value of my old machines now is any less than their value when I bought them new from the Apple store.
There are many kinds of value and the only a machine's value decreases is if it is being under-utilized or being sold.
For example: my numerous 'old' macs are still very valuable. A Wallstreet powerbook saw it's last flight 2 years ago and now sits on my mother's desk where she checks her e-mail, surfs the web, and does other small tasks. My PowerBook G4 has taken over the role of keeping me productive away from home, but the Wallstreet still is valuable because if we did not have it, my mother would be using my DP 500 G4 tower at exactly the time when I need to get my graphics, programming, and scripting work done.
My old 7200/180 is no longer valuable as a workstation, however it is incredibly useful as a development webserver and POP3 mail server. And it is still more secure than my company's IIS servers. Sometimes I bring it in to take the place of a server that needs to be taken down for the night for whatever reason.
Point is, you can just about always find a new task for an old mac. But if you are looking to sell, then yes, be prepared to receive nothing close to what you paid.
-Ender
I want a new comp but can't rid of my current one!
anyone interested?!?!?!?